Four duels with van Aert: Mathieu van der Poel's cyclocross racing calendar

On Friday, Team Alpecin-Deceuninck announced Mathieu van der Poel's cyclocross racing calendar. Accordingly, the six-time cyclo-cross world champion will take part in the World Cup in Zonhoven on 22 December.

Mathieu van der Poel's cyclocross racing calendar at a glance

• 22.12.2024, World Cup, Zonhoven (Belgium)
• 23.12.2024, Superprestige Mol (Belgium)
• 26.12.2024, World Cup Gavere (Belgium)
• 27.12.2024, Exact Cross Loenhout (Belgium)
• 29.12.2024, World Cup Bessancon (France)
• 01.01.2025, X20 Trofee Baal (Belgium)
• 03.01.2025, X20 Trofee Koksijde (Belgium)
• 05.01.2025, World Cup Dendermonde (Belgium)
• 25.01.2025, World Cup Maasmechelen (Belgium)
• 26.01.2025, World Cup Hoogerheide (Netherlands)
• 02.02.2025, Cyclocross World Championship Lievin (France)

>> Cyclocross World Cup calendar 2024/25 - all dates

Four duels between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert

One day later, the Superprestige takes place in Mol (Zilvermeercross), where the first of a total of four duels with Wout van Aert This will be followed by the World Cup in Gavere on Boxing Day, before the Exact Cross (Azencross) in Loenhout one day later (second duel with van Aert) and the World Cup in Bessancon on 29 December, two more competitions are planned for 2024. The X20 Trofee Baal continues on New Year's Day before the X20 Trofee Koksijde is scheduled two days later, followed by the World Cup in Dendermonde on 5 January.

This also represents the Third meeting with van Aert represent, who recently published his cyclocross racing calendar. After Dendermonde, van der Poel is planning a training camp to prepare for the World Championships.

"We're taking a slightly different approach this winter. Last year I started the season in top form, but the World Championships didn't feel like my best race of the season. Now we are really trying to be at our best at the World Championships by focussing on specific preparation during a training camp. For optimum efficiency, it's better not to interrupt it," said van der Poel on his team's homepage.

Mathieu van der Poel aims for historic World Championship title

The 29-year-old makes no secret of the fact that the only thing that counts for him is the World Championships: "The seventh world title, of course. It's the only thing I still have to achieve in cyclocross: this unique record by Erik De Vlaeminck." The Dutchman is still one title short of De Vlaemnick, who became world champion in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. "The world championship in Lievin is the only real goal, although I hope to fight for victory in all the other races I take part in. But we'll see how I do in the first few weeks. As I said, the highlight will be a little later this year."

After the training camp, the Dutchman wants to prove himself at the World Cup in Maasmachelen, where the Fourth duel with van Aert and Hoogerheide will be putting the finishing touches to the title fights on 2 February in Lievin, France.

Wout van Aert vs Mathieu van der Poel

• 23.12.2024, Superprestige Mol (Belgium)
• 27.12.2024, Exact Cross Loenhout (Belgium)
• 05.01.2025, World Cup Dendermonde (Belgium)
• 25.01.2025, World Cup Maasmechelen (Belgium)